“Any day on the river is a great day” is a quote we often hear from our fly fishermen each summer at Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch. People come from all over to enjoy the pristine waters on the Boulder River, a place where both isolation and successful fishing can be found.Gary on Boulder
Our stretch of river frontage winds for over a mile and is easily accessible to wade. Since our policy has been “catch and release” for forty years, the quality and quantity is unbeatable anywhere else on the upper Boulder River. An equal mixture of rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout are lurking amongst the rocks and ripples. The more experienced fishermen are often able to entice trout sixteen inches or better to their flies, and they come back to the lodge in the evening with big smiles on their faces and have many fish stories to tell.
Because Hawley Mountain Ranch is located at 6400 feet elevation, our fishing season starts about mid July and goes through September. The water temperatures are too cold and the river level too high due to snow melt for successful fishing until then. The prime weeks for fishing would be August through early September.
A two acre pond below the lodge is stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout. It’s a great place to start beginners during the instruction lesson who want to learn the art of fly fishing. Then guests often head to the pond during any free time they have with a rod in hand to hone in on their casting and catching skills. Trout can be kept from the pond for guests to enjoy at the ranch cookouts during the week.
We can’t think of a better way to relax, especially after dealing with hectic daily schedules each day, than to stand in the middle of a clear river current. Somehow the rippling water and beautiful scenery that surrounds the fisherman have a way of melting away anxieties and calming one’s soul. Our fly fishermen certainly don’t need to be convinced!
